Page:CAB Accident Report, Braniff Airways Flight 542.pdf/4

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bqudups, estimating the tops to be about 10,000 to 12,000 feet. He also report-691 distant lightning to the west of course. ThlS pilot reported that no weather was encountered south of the Leona intersection, which 13 about 23 miles south and slightly west of the accident Slte. The pilot of a military C—h? flying from Shreveport to Houston some 80 or more miles east of the acoldent Site reported in smooth air at 6, 500 feet and that the weather was clear between the 0—1;? and what was later determined to be the burning airliner.

According to groundmtnesses in Buffalo, Texas, and the immediate area at the time of the accldent, skies were partly cloudy, the Visszility was good, and no lightning was observed. Shortly after the acoldent a. few light showsrs were observed in the Buffalo area, but not at the acc1dent Site. By midnight the only thunderstorm in the area was located by surface and radar observation Within 30 miles of the northwest of Waco.

While the flight crew of Braniff Flight No. Sh2 did not reCeive a prefllght weather briefing at the Houston office of the U. S. Weather 13ureau, company meteorologists provided the flight with current and forecast weather information for the route and ternunals concerned.

Witnesses

All passengers aboard the aircraft when it arrived at Dallas from Chicago as trip 61/29 who could be contacted by telephone were later questioned. No unusual 1nc1dents which could be directly related to this acchdent were revealed.

Every known Witness who either heard the aircraft at the time of difficulty or observed the fire in the sky was interrogated. Statements were obtained from all who were con51dered able to contribute to the investigation.

Witnesses reported hearing various neises of different inten51t1es and of different pitches. Many of the sounds were likened to known 1101588 such as the "clapping of two boards together," ” the sound of thunder," "the roar of a jet plane breaking the sound barrier," “whoosmg screaming n01se,” “creaking noise of a bulldozer, “ and "awful exploszLon."

The maJority of witnesses observed the large fire in the sky. The geographical p051tion of this fire was established at a location conszLdered to be accurate within one-half mile The elevation of the fire ball was calculated from information provided by three Witnesses who were Judged the best source for this information. Each had a fixed reference poant for establishing the angle of elevation. This effort resulted in a minimum altitude of 17,000 feet and a maximum of 23,000 feet.

One witness stated that he observed a white light prior to hearing the unusually loud neise from the aircraft or obsernng the flI‘E ball.

Following this scoldent, twelve known unusual n01ses such as Jet aircraft, some booms, propellers at supersonic Speeds, Electras cru151ng normally, and intentionally random n01Ses were put on tape. This tape was played back to Witnesses 1nd1v1dually in an attempt to identify more closely the n01se associated with the accident. None of the Witnesses had been apprised of the source of the sounds they were about to hear. The net result of this effort was to liken the n01ses to those of propellers at supersonic speeds and/or those of Jet aircraft.